The Opelousas courier., 1887-04-16

Baton Rouge Capitoliau-Advocate:

of noting the progress that has been made. of
late years, in Southwest LOulsiana-a region |
that can nowhere be surpassed for its beauty, |
its climate, its fertility and It's varied re- |
sources
Lake Charles, by the enterprisiug spirit OF
whose citizens tho convention was designed |
and so successfully carried out, is situated on
the eastern shore of the beautiful lake of that
name. It has q cosmopolitan population OF
we'll nigh five thousand inhabitants and ex-
hibits all the sigma of an American town that
is rapidly developing into city. With the
lake on one side, and tanned by the cooling
breezes of the Gulf of Mexico, which sweep |
over the broad prairies that lie on its south !
ern and eastern boundaries, Lake Charles IS
one of the most delightful sites imaginable.
Already, it boasts of numerous stylish resi-
denees, Of the handsome Watkins Bank build
ing, and of the advantages OF soil sufficient
ly mixed with sand as 10 mako its streets
passable even in the worst weather. Came
abounds on the prairies and the rivers, lakes
and bays with fish and oysters. The soil is
light, and with proper cultivation yields
fruits. vegetables and cereals of all kinds. 1t
is besides the land of the orange aud Of other
semi.tropical growths. The prairie anords
the most nutritious native grasses lot Gne
countless herds of stock with which it is
dotted. The Calcasieu river, broad aud deep,
is lined with the richest pine and cypress,
which supply no less than six OF the pest
equipped aud most extensive lum0ef niiis IN
the South. The Calcasieu, for many miles,
has an average depth of about seventy'fve
feet, and When the pass will have been deep
ened, as it ehould be, will enable ocean steam
ers TO load at the wharves of the various
mills Indeed, the deepening of the pass is
the great need of Lake Charles, and 1T is to be
hoped that our public men will leave nothing
undone to secure the government aid required
for the purpose. That done Lake Charles is
bound to become an important centre OF
trade and population Here is located that
live Westerner, j. B. Watkins, whose exten.
sive land purchase has made him famous. aud
who is successfully applying bis indomitabie
energy and vast means to build up the par:
shes of Caicasieu aud Cameron. Be 1t said
to the credit of the people of Lake Charles
that they are secondtug with broad public
spirit the efforts Of Mr.. Watkins, aud of Prots.
Knapp and Thomson, to develop the resources
of that favored region.
From Lake Charles, the writer proceeded
eastward to Jennings, the attractive site OF
the colony Of Western farmers who have cast
their lot with the people Of Calcasieu. The
little town of Jennings lies upon the broad
prairie, on the line OF the Louisiana western
two hotels aud a church, school house aud
other necessary adjuncts. 1t is surrounded
by thrifty farms, whose owners have aiready
planted large orchards and have opened
growing trade In hay with New Orleans.
They also raise stock, of which they are inn
lishing creameries. One Of these farmers, .
very practical aud intelligent Westerner, told
the writer that he regarded the native grasses
| as superior to the Blue Grass OF Kentucky.
| He stated that two crops of the best quality
of hay could easily be raised, aud he said be-
sides, that there was no end to the money.
making resources of the country. Aside from
the pecan, which i'll itself would, i'll few
years, yield a little fortune to any man who
raised grove of the trees, he thought the fig
would give most remuneratlve returns Lanas
that few years ago went begging at $l:@0
per acre are now worth from $40 to $50. The
climate, he addsd, was simply superb; the
winters being mild and tue summers ten.
pered by the gulf breezes which make the
| nights as cool as in the most favored places
on the continent. Jennings is but ten miles
distant from Lake Arthur, one of the most
charming localities in the South, in many
respects resembling the site of Lake Charles.
| Lake Arthur is peculiarly fitted for orange
| culture and it abounds with fish and game,
and presents lovely landscapes to the eye.
| Next, also ON the railroad, lies Crowley, the
prairie city of the future, which is springing
| into life, through tue energy of the Dusons
| and the Southwestern Louisiana Land Com
papy. Crowley, is beautifully laid off, with
! broad streets, squares and bouievards
| Drainage canals have been dug, the streets
| ditched aud leveled and trees planted on al
sides. Already, number of buildings have
been erected, and soon it will boast Of sub.
stantial courthouse building the seat of the
new parish of Acadia having been located
there at the recent election. Between thirty
| and forty thousand dollars were ealiZed from
the first sale of town lots, and doomed as it ii
by men Of indomitable pluck and means
Crowley is bound to become an importan
place. The surrounding country is very muof
of the same character as Jennings. y
The town of Rayne is next reached by tht
train. II has quite number of bushes:
Houses. hotels, churches, etc, apd popuia
tiof, of several hundreds. It is also situated
on the broad prairie of glorious sunrises ant
sunsets. The mornings are ushered IN annie
the songs of the lark, and tue first rays OF tn
sun seem to dance among the dewdrops tina
sparkle like 30 many diamonds upon ever,
blade of the green grass which decks the love
ly landscape.
Eighteen miles eastward, at the junction
of the Louisiana Western and Opeiousas rat
roads, is the old town of Lafayette, which
nestled on the edge Of the inoss-covered FOL
ests that line the picturesque Bayou vorml
lion. nayigable stream which carries its wa
ters to the gulf Lafayette is the attractiv
| seat of the parish of that name, which is re
noBned for the great fertility OF its soil.
is said of Lafayette parish that every acre {
it's land is Of excellent quality. 1t is thickl
settled, yet there is plenty OF room ZOE thrift
immigrants, who are wanted by all It's MOI
pitabIe people. The town, with its man
ton of over two thousand
Twenty-two miles north Of Lafayette, O
the Morgan Road. is the pretty town OF Ope
ousas the seat of the great parish OF 81. Iai
dry, Onelousas has about 5000 inhabitanG
!; It ID beautifully located on 81 rolling pratt
: and Contaius numerous very handsome Ses
: dences, stores. churches, schooinouses, Q.
! Shaded with trees and shrubbery, and j
: Yards ornamented with flowers, Opelousas 9
fers very pleasing views. The attention OF !
! people is now centered upon the imposing 81
Z styiish courthouse, now nearing compleglo
: under the direction of those able and skiilt
! architects, Messrs Harmon d HosS. Opelo
!, sss is noted for its talented bar, the beau
: and elegance of its women, and the culture
!, its men. 1t has long been "A famed centre
|, education and refinement
n The aPetit Paris" of old, st. Martinsvill
L a Quaint town of over fifteen hundred Inhal
tar1ts. which is reached over branch line
A | six miles connected with the Morgan Road,
4: the next place of Importance. 10 10 Deaa
a fnlIy loCated on the historic Teche, SO poet
d ailv describea By Longfellow and by Chari
1. Dudley Warner. st. Martfnsville lies in o
Il of the most productive regions IN the Sous
D. and it needs bat the influx OF capital ana !
n migration to bring it back to its prlsGi
"a plory. when it was the centre OF commer'
Il wealth and culture of the Attakapas. 10
/, testify renowned Tor the grace and beauty
hi ite women and the polished manners and
"a iantry OF its men. u was the home OF =
- etiyaIrous Alcibiade DeBlanc. the Decloue
Z. the Fournets, the VOORHEES,, the Simons,
Rianyeuus the Brouesards, the Castilies
other noted old families. It has very Ial
to- Catholic Church, over which Father dan
I sides. This venerable pastor IS eignty-sos
sr Years old and still does Ill tho work Of
,ss parish. He has joined in wedlock aim